This lightweight Hyundai i30 wants to challenge Honda Civic Type R

Camouflaged Hyundai i30 N Project C to be limited to only 600 examples

Think hot hatches, and immediately you'd think of the Honda Civic Type R, Mini Clubman John Cooper Works, Volkswagen Golf R, and maybe even the Ford Focus ST. But you might have already forgotten that Hyundai is now part of that roster with the i30 N.

Packed with a 275 PS, 353 Nm turbocharged inline-four, a six-speed manual gearbox, as well as a lightweight chassis, the i30 N is one serious road machine that is both quick and agile. While it seems Hyundai have made a potent machine against the hot hatch stalwarts, the company is not done making improvements on it just yet.

Say hello to the Hyundai i30 N Project C, a limited edition version of the already capable hot hatchback. Billed to be lighter, lower, and more agile than the standard i30 N, Project C will make heavy use of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic components (CFRP), as well as come with motorsport-inspired 19-inch alloy wheels. With it, Hyundai claims that the additional upgrades on Project will allow the i30 N to be more responsive to driver input.

Aside from putting the hot hatch on a diet, Hyundai also said that they were busy applying aerodynamic touches in order for it to cut through the wind better. But despite all these mention of tech and accolades, Hyundai has yet to fully reveal the i30 N Project C in all its glory.

Instead, the automaker decided to release several teaser images of the limited hot hatch wearing a light camo livery. However, you might be wondering as to why the i30 N Project C comes with a unique orange sticker that appears to be showing a race track. According to Hyundai, the sticker signifies 'Area C', a section of the company's private track that is located at the Namyang R&D center in Korea. There, the area serves as the spiritual home of Hyundai N, which now serves as the company's high-performance division.

Given Hyundai's N know-how in performance, as well as the leadership of former BMW M boss Albert Biermann at the helm of N, Hyundai is confident that the Project C will serve as the pinnacle of the current generation i30 N. But without much details to go on, we'll just have to wait and see what Hyundai has exactly in store for us.

Interested in one? Only 600 units will be made in total and all are destined for select European markets. The automaker is set to make its global premiere at the upcoming 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show.